Despite harsh weather conditions, more than 400,000 frontline workers will reach 45.5 million children to provide polio vaccine
A health worker administers anti-polio drops to a child during the launch of the city-wide vaccination campaign, marking another crucial step in the fight to protect future generations from the crippling disease. PHOTO FILE: JALAL QUERESHI/EXPRESS
KARACHI:
The last nationwide polio eradication campaign of the year begins on Monday with the aim of vaccinating around 45.5 million children across the country.
The campaign was highlighted at an awareness event held at the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, where Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab, union presidents, health partners and community leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen local government support for polio eradication.
Addressing the gathering, Mayor Wahab emphasized that the government alone cannot eliminate polio without public cooperation. “A clap requires two hands. The state needs your support,” he said, urging parents to ensure their children receive anti-polio drops when vaccination teams visit their homes.
He pointed out that Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only two countries in the world where polio has yet to be eradicated, while several Muslim-majority countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Nigeria, have successfully eliminated the disease. “This shows that polio can be defeated through collective effort,” he added.
Despite harsh weather conditions, more than 400,000 frontline polio workers will join the campaign, going door-to-door across the country to administer the vaccine. Health officials have described the campaign as a critical opportunity to protect children from lifelong disability caused by the virus.
The mayor emphasized the role of women, religious leaders and community elders in dispelling misconceptions about the vaccine, saying mothers and sisters can play a key role in convincing families to vaccinate their children. He also praised women health workers for their commitment, especially in emergency situations.
Wahab called Karachi the country’s most educated city and said it was important to counter negative perceptions around polio vaccination.
On civic issues, the mayor said, each union president currently receives Rs1.3 million in monthly funds, underscoring the need for transparency and accountability in the use of public money. He also encouraged citizens to report stolen or missing manholes by calling 1334.
The event was attended by representatives of several political parties, including Pakistan Peoples Party, JUI-F and PTI, reflecting a rare show of political consensus on the need to protect children and eliminate polio from Pakistan once and for all.
